Originally published at Pennsic 43, 2014 Common Era
Hail and Good Fortune to you all!
Let’s have fun! Let’s volunteer! I am most likely one of the worst offenders. All of my best stories start “I remember
when…” or “No—there we were….” The amount of fun we used to have at 3 am, bored silly at Troll. It may still be
illegal in some states. Me and Wolfgang in a golf cart doing a shift for the Watch at 4 am in the Bog. Talk about trouble
looking for a place to happen. Standing gate guard at Royal. Being asked to hold a garden gnome that you stole from your
neighbor’s yard for a photo op, or working Izzy’s “Women’s Only” party. Now THAT’S fun! Helping at Children’s Point.
Helping at Handicapped Services. Doing setup and take down. Lots of work we can do.
The Coopers and their army do much and are fantastic, but they cannot do it all and should not be expected to. If
everyone did four, eight or twelve hours, we would not have some people doing forty to sixty. But they would do it
anyway because that is what they do. I know. I am one of them. We are service addicts. Volunteering is fun. You get to
show off your best garb and bring out your best new toys. You get to make contacts and friends. You get to be seen. You
get to FLIRT! Who knows what might happen? Besides, this could be the first step in that long, LONG road to getting that
Pelican you have always wanted.
Lords and Ladies! Charge your glasses and raise them high! To those who go above and beyond and volunteered.
Thank you. Until next year, may we all get what we want and deserve. Me? I am going to get myself a beer. I want a beer
and I deserve it!
Drink Well. Drink Often. Drink with..
OG